Well, it's that time :)

I'm tired of my sluggish PC and it's time to kill it. Often, folks will give me a litany of complaints with no real obvious problems meaning that their PC is cruddy. I've reloaded this one several times, run memory tests, checked the HD, and without really invasive time-consuming investigation I'm just abandoning it.

Before I blow it away, I've got to have an essential software list. This is different than my Essential Free Windows Software list.

Here's my list of backup data: list, check, test, do. You should have this list BEFORE it's time to dump your PC. Accidents demand that you have this already done, preferably at least once a day. First I backup my personal files and work files - all in their respective work spaces (replicated when I feel like it's important) Because I use version control, all my source is replicated already. Then, I make sure I've got appropriate source media for all my software. I much prefer something fast like install files on a hard drive.

• Adobe CS3 Web. Since I've had some problems that could indicate data integrity issues, I'm going to re-download this from my Adobe account. I may just check the md5 hash before I download it. The files are in the archives dir also. I bought this as an upgrade. So, I've got the older version's key and this version's key in my serials file. I've committed my account credentials to memory.
• Avast, which I'll download from their website for the latest version. I've got a commercial license, so I check my serials file. Got it!
• Apple iTunes, much to my embarrassment. It's just so easy. And, it'll move smoothly to my Mac when I buy it. The big download includes the latest QuickTime player also. It's important to unregister this PC before moving on. My music is in my archive. I've committed the account information to memory.
• Audacity because I often just want to record some audio and mix it down fast and free. My projects are in my archives.
• BitTorrent because Debian Linux and websites like that belonging to forward thinking music groups distribute cool stuff that way. Technology isn't just for piracy. I'll download the latest version.
• Camtasia Studios to record screen casting in Windows easily. The key is in my serials file. I can either download it from the website archives or use my archived install file.
• Digsby is the ultimate IM for Windows. These guys update so often there's no point avoiding the download - I'll just download the latest version. I've memorized my account.
• Foxit Reader - I love this software because it's faster and lighter than Acrobat Reader. But, I've got CS3 with Acrobat Pro, and it's tolerable. So, I'm dumping this software. No backup; no serials. Unfortunately, it's not as useful for a developer who uses Adobe tools. There's just no point.
• Free Commander because you just SHOULD have a backup file manager. I'll download it, and it's freeware.
• because I've got both 2100 and 2600 laser jet printers. Only, I need the CD since for some reason the dowloaded drivers won't load the network drivers on the 2600. I'm actually missing this CD. An employee had this in my basement about six months ago, so it's around. I'll put it on my list.
• IrFanview for down and dirty fast image editing via this freeware which I'll download to get the latest version. I've not upgraded in a while. Beware of the Google toolbar (watch install closely and don't miss opportunity to uncheck) - but glad it's free. Most free and even much commercial software install stuff you don't want. Watch all fresh installations carefully.
• Duplicate File Detective is commercial, but only about $40. I've used it before, and will likely use it again. But, it's awfully rudimentary in some respects. Maybe I'd be better off managing my drives with simple BSD commands - but I'll keep this URL handy to download it to search through my archives to make sure I've got few duplicates. I tried out Apple's automatic music management once and it made a mess of my collection. This tool helped me clean it up quite a bit, but it's something you'll need to closely watch. It doesn't remove emptied directories (or at least not with the configs I used).
• Macromedia's Flash Paper is now owned by Adobe. I may want to buy this to do some work for a few clients. I don't quite get flash paper, but apparently folks dig it. I think flash alone, maybe some actionscript work will suffice.
• Java because the JRE necessary for all kinds of stuff. I'll just download the free latest download on the Java website.
• Mozilla Backup because I've been using a Windows email client lately instead of SSH into a mail server and MUTT, which is much more comfortable to me. I mean, I've read and written my email in VI for 8 years now. To be blunt, I don't like using Mozilla, but I've got a lot of email and contacts, so I'm backing it up. I think I'm going to write something web-based to do this for me so I can use something like IMAP, web-based tools, and Mutt.
• Mozilla Add-ons for Firefox, cause I've got cool useful tools. I'll just download the latest and my bookmarks service password is committed to memory.
• Web Developer
• Foxmarks, though I've written up my own standard for a bookmarking tool in late 2000, and will launch it soon. Make sure I sync before moving on. My password is committed to memory.
• Selenium IDE, to test web applications
• Lola, for web design.
• Skype, so I can call call and communicate via my Skype account easily.
• Nero to burn CDs and do minor DVD authoring. My key is in the serials file. I've got the lastest version for which I'm licensed. If I can download another copy, I'll prefer that one for the install.
• Notepad++ is an essential Windows Notepad replacement tool, free to download which I will do to get the latest clean version.
• Open Office.org because I prefer the simple predictable behavior and its price: free. I can install it on as many PCs as I like, and it creates and reads proprietary files like Microsoft Office (version XP and earlier).
• Pidgin IM for a backup IM client for all major networks. I'll use the copy in archive or download the latest if I decide to install later.
• Safari because I develop websites and 14% of all computers sold last quarter were Macs. I'll download it from Apple.

• Registry Mechanic is the lazy man's registry cleaning tool. I bought it, and the key is sitting in my email inbox, and is not in my serials file (must not have thought it important). I've collected it and placed it in my serials file. Like many tools, it requires a matching registration name and key. Both were in an archived email (luckily I recognize my name).
• Sigmatel drivers because my little brother gave me a portable phone I use on my Skype account. I'll download it.
• Skype for my phone services and teleconferencing service. I've committed the credentials to memory.
• Delta Copy is freeware and I'll download the latest version. It's an rsync tool to synchronize an incremental backup of archive files from my Windows box to my local or remote unix server.
• Winamp because I still use it occasionally to listen to flac files. It's freeware, and I'll download it when I want to use it.
• WinSCP to move files around in SSH.

Next, I go through all my commercial programs and deactivate them to avoid conflicts and browse the Windows created directories like "My Documents," and the like to make sure nothing important has been left out of the archive backup.

Now I'm ready to install my new OS on my new box and move over all my software and files. First thing I do is copy all my archive files to an external device, and then copy a special extra copy of my serials file.

Posted in media | tech jasonn's blog