Rebuilding a computer & OS from scratch

[REDVAN]

I just replaced every component in my home PC (except the case!).

I am wondering what programs are MUST haves these days?

For example, I am using firefox, thunderbird, utorrent, iTunes, etc.

But I also use spyboy S&d, avast etc.

What are other people's must-have programs? Anything that you can recommend to someone who is starting with a fresh OS?

[Hack&Lube]

http://ninite.com/

All the essentials. You can check off all the boxes. Hit the button, and all will download and install automatically!

[photon]

Nice. They have launchy too, I love launchy.

[Bobblehead]

Ninite

Pick what you want, it creates an installer to get everything you select AND you can use it to keep everything up to date.

Edit:darn it, H&L!

[Azure]

Holy crap that is cool.

[SebC]

Steam =D

[sclitheroe]

Backblaze

[BloodFetish]

Haven't learned about Ninite before - thanks for that!

Paint.net is an awesome light little program as a replacement for MS Paint, so long as you don't mind installing .Net 2.0

One of my first downloads for every new install is ProcessExplorer as a replacement for Windows Task Manager.

For PDFs I avoid Adobe Acrobat - bloated and insecure methinks. Instead I like PDF X-Change Viewer, which adds some editing features and browser plugins.

[Traditional_Ale]

Holy crap, H&L! That is freaking sweet!

Man I'm rusty at this stuff. Circa 2007 I had it all nailed.