Setting up a Windows box | The Coffeehouse

Bass
www.spreadfirefox.com/5years/

I'm setting up a Windows machine. What are the typical things you install/configure after installing Windows?

ManipUni
Proving QQ for 5 years!

Service Pack.

Windows Update. Windows Update. Windows Update ...... Windows Update..... Windows Update....

Firefox (Adblock, other addons)

Pidgin/Live Messenger/Skype

iTunes

Flash Player, and Adobe Reader

WinAmp Pro

spivonious

After installing windows, I grab all the latest device drivers from the manufacturers. Once that's done I do a Microsoft Update loop until all needed updates are downloaded and installed. Then I install big apps, like Visual Studio and Office, and make sure those are updated. Then I go about installing the rest of software, usually as I need it.

I got in the habit of reinstalling my machine every 6 months or so in the Windows 95 days, so I tend to leave settings at their defaults.

Bass
www.spreadfirefox.com/5years/

In reply to spivonious

#Oct 2nd @ 11:34 AM

Reinstall every 6 months? Well I do that too, but only because there is a new version of Ubuntu every 6 months. Why would you reinstall the same version of Windows?

Bass
www.spreadfirefox.com/5years/

Are there any good terminal emulators for Windows?

LeoDavidson

In reply to Bass

#Oct 2nd @ 11:56 AM

Do you mean for telnet/ssh? I think most people still use PuTTY (at least, I do).

spivonious

In reply to Bass

#Oct 2nd @ 11:54 AM

Oh I don't do it anymore (haven't since around 2004) but I'm stuck with the habit of leaving things at default settings. In those early days, Windows got mucked up very easily and reinstalling really did give a noticeable speed increase.

Bass
www.spreadfirefox.com/5years/

In reply to LeoDavidson

#Oct 2nd @ 12:35 PM

Something like this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNOME_Terminal

sushovande
Smiley Face Sharp

In reply to Bass

#Oct 2nd @ 1:10 PM

Cygwin (That'll get you bash)? Sorry not sure what you mean.

Bass
www.spreadfirefox.com/5years/

In reply to sushovande

#Oct 2nd @ 1:20 PM

An application which can host shells, not a shell itself.

ManipUni
Proving QQ for 5 years!

In reply to Bass

#Oct 2nd @ 1:30 PM

Cygwin

Bass
www.spreadfirefox.com/5years/

In reply to ManipUni

#Oct 2nd @ 1:35 PM

Cygwin is to Bash (+coreutils) as _____________ is to Gnome-Terminal

Someone must be able to fill in this blank!

This is what I mean by terminal emulator: http://chipmunkninja.com/images/cmd.exe.png

The window itself, not the shell running in it.

figuerres
???

In reply to Bass

#Oct 2nd @ 1:10 PM

i have not yet tried this out but looks interesting:

http://terminals.codeplex.com/

seems to take all the different types and bring them into one app.

ssh,telnet,rdp,vnc

Bass
www.spreadfirefox.com/5years/

In reply to figuerres

#Oct 2nd @ 1:44 PM

Not really what I am looking for. I'm going to give up on this for now. Smiley

Another thing, I have a big monitor. So I like to split my monitor into multiple screens (usually three).

This is an example: http://awesome.naquadah.org/images/screen.png

Is there any way to accomplish this similarly in Windows.

ManipUni
Proving QQ for 5 years!

I must admit I'm not entirely sure what you're after. A terminal can mean a lot of things.

Bass
www.spreadfirefox.com/5years/

In reply to ManipUni

#Oct 2nd @ 2:46 PM

A clone of Gnome Terminal.

LeoDavidson

In reply to Bass

#Oct 2nd @ 1:55 PM

There is a tool to split the desktop into regions but I can't remember the name of it. Not much help but at least you know it's worth looking as there is one out there. Big Smile

blowdart
Peek-a-boo

In reply to LeoDavidson

#Oct 2nd @ 3:08 PM

fences?

LeoDavidson

In reply to blowdart

#Oct 2nd @ 3:44 PM

No, not Fences. The thing I'm thinking of lets you layout any app windows in a grid. I think Fences is for grouping desktop icons.

...

Here it is*, I asked a friend who found it a while ago and he remembered:

http://www.online-tech-tips.com/free-software-downloads/split-or-divide-your-desktop-screen-into-multiple-parts/

Edit: *they are, in fact. The page mentions two similar programs. I've not tried either personally.

DCMonkey
Monkey see, monkey do, monkey will destroy you!

In reply to Bass

#Oct 2nd @ 2:51 PM

SecureCRT is a tabbed terminal emulator/SSH client I used to use. It's not free though.

Bass
www.spreadfirefox.com/5years/

In reply to LeoDavidson

#Oct 2nd @ 4:34 PM

Nice. Thank you!

Bass
www.spreadfirefox.com/5years/

In reply to Bass

#Oct 2nd @ 5:36 PM

I notice that my computer (probably hard disc) is making massive amounts of clicking noses. Sometimes it goes away, but it's happening a lot. Is this normal?