Add-ons and Utilities - any benefit??

[Malam]

I have just gone through a painfull four days of computer problems - Internet Explorer not running ok, shutdown woes, etc. Eventually, I had to do a Windows restore, and found that a Utility (which I paid for) - Registry Checking utility, was the cause of my woes.

I would like to have member's opinions or comments, on the use,benefit, or appropriateness, of utilities and add-ons, that are not part of the Operating Systems. From Disk Cleaners, Defragmenters, Windows Cleaners, Registry Cleaners, the list goes on. Which of these do you have and how are you using them ? Are you using the utilities packed with windows ?

Please let us know your Operating System when replying.
Thanks.

[Thund3rball]

CCleaner
JK Defrag

Both free, both solid.

[Supergrover]

CCleaner
defraggler

Never had any probs with them.

[Nodscene]

Another vote for CCleaner. I run both the Cleaner and Registry without problems.
I also use Raxco Perfect disk as it does offline files. It really does make a difference when it come to booting.
The other program I swear by is WinPatrol. It's a free program that monitors anything that gets installed and wants to have something startup when windows starts or even services but in real time. Sorta like a msconfig on steroids.

[AkG]

The very first thing I do w/ a new system is load the following programs onto them:
CCleaner
HijackThis
PerfectDisk
SuperAntiSpyware
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Cactus Spam Filter
AVG Anti-spyware (or AVG 8 w/ custom no crap added install)
Nod32 Anti-virus
FireFox & Opera (may add Chrome to the list IF they get adblocker)
Adblocker Plus for FF
Forecast Fox for FF
IE Tab for FF
IE View for FF
Download Helper for FF
FlashBlock for FF
BugMeNot and RetailMeNot for FF
Thunderbird email
WinRAR
WinZip
MozBackup
Sybot S&D
Ad-aware SE
TuneUp Utilities 2008 (or 2009 now)
ImgBurn
UberOptions (if using a Logitech mouse)
mIRC
Speedfan
RealTemp
CoreTemp
Your Uninstaller! 2008

and a bunch of others I can't remember right now. MOST of those above (except the obvious ones) are freeware w/ PRO upgrades available for $$. Most things which come w/ MS OS's blow in comparison to their freeware alternatives.

[Thund3rball]

Oh I forgot Autoruns. It's a great little app for easily managing startup items.

[Shadowmeph]

most of my system tools are portable because the take less room and also I don't have to worry about the programs getting infected or what ever.

download an older version of ad-aware se and update the definitions at there blog website here Lavasoft Research Blog - Lavasoft don't use the newer ad-aware program because it is way to bloated

I wouldn't recommend Spybot S&D it used to be good but lately it is just a pain in the Butt can cause allot of problems if you are not into paying close attention to what you are doing.

cc cleaner is a excellent program it does allot including reg cleaning it is safe and it is totally free

for defragging I use either the Wintig WinContig
or jkDefrag . both are free

if you are thinking that you might have malware or something like that use hijackthis and then copy/paste the output to this website HijackThis Logfileauswertung and you will get a good idea of what is what

as for web browsers I don't use IE just because it constantly contacts Microsoft. I use SRW Iron ( portable version) which is allot like Chrome but allot more secure
and for email client I use Koma mail it is allot like outlook but faster and has allot of features plus it is portable and free.
messengers I use amsn
media players there is only one and that is VLC its free and I can play anything with it. I jhave never had to download any codecs for me it is perfect.

[AkG]

I agree on the Adaware, new version is bloatware at best but the old SE is still a decent program. I disagree w/ Spybot. It may no longer be the fastest or the best but its still a good 2nd or 3rd opinion. IMHO Malwarbytes + S.A.S. is the best 1-2 punch for malware out there right now and usually doesn't need anything else but w/ Spybot I still have a soft spot for it.

Oh and add Spywareblaster to the list. Good passive free "imunization" proggey.

[CTA]

if you use IE6 or IE7 then you should check IE7Pro - The Ultimate Add-On for Internet Explorer