hey all, just joined after i saw the thread in the other forum about XP freeware programs http://www.uer.ca/...urrpage=1&pp#post7

so yeah basically my situation is this:

i have basic computer knowledge and i would like to dewindowsify my laptop (and still keeping xp as my OS)

i have firefox as my web browser
I'm trying trillian for my IM client
i have tried open office but i do not really like that so i'm still using word etc...
i also use gmail instead of msn hotmail

some questions

how can i delete IE and outlook express from my machine?
what other programs can i use to get some windows programs out.

thanks

If you're looking to change explorer.exe (eg, the taskbar and such), go to Stardock software. They have tools which can (if you so desire) make your pc look like a mac, or like X, etc.

Posted by TaP I'm trying trillian for my IM client

Yuck. Try gaim at http://gaim.sourceforge.net/

Replace Outlook with Thunderbird, found at http://www.mozilla.com, same creators of firefox, works with gmail.

-Sinister Crayon
http://www.drainfreaks.net/

I'm really tired right now, will/might add more later.

TweakUI is a utility you can get from Microsoft that gives you some flexibility in how windows operates and allows you to turn off some of the more annoying features.

Go to the microsoft page, hit the "downloads" link and search for "TweakUI" or "XP Power Toys".

It will at least allow you to hide a number of components in the start menu and on the desktop and such.

You might want to try Star Office as another MS Office replacement, I haven't used it and get along pretty well in OpenOffice.

I second or third the suggestion of using thunderbird for email instead of ms outlook.

I use a highly, highly modified version of XP with a lot of third party free and open source alternatives. Here's a list of applications I have installed with brief explanations.

Communication Apps:
Filezilla FTP Client - FTP Client

Firefox - Web Browser
There are some important extensions/plugins - security wise you should have installed in firefox:
NoSript
AdBlockPlus
TorButton (Handy if your running TOR internet anonymizer)
DisTrust

FWDCommunicator - Think Skype, but better.

PuTTY - nice telnet/ssh client (and so much more)

Thunderbird - Email

uTorrent (bitTorrent client)

Document Applications:
Open Office
PaintDotNet (photoshop replacement)

Media Utilities:
Media Player Classic - With the free codecs and plugins available for this player it does pretty much everything and anything.

System Applications:
XPIze - nice icons and visual effects, plus an advanced alt-tab tool I won't live without anymore.

TweakUI - see above

truecrypt - nice encryption utility

RealVNC - nice remote application on the local network, block it at the firewall

PowerISO - NICE replacement for Daemon Tools but you have to pay for it, or steal it. i've had performance and resource issues with Daemone tools, plus there's no right click context menu for it, you have to browse to the .iso...

PDFCreator - handy little app, installs as a printer, dump anything to it to create simple PDF's.

PadlockSL - good luck finding it, but very handy.

netdrive.exe - map ftp connections as network drives (slick)

MetaVNC - like VNC but you can share/connect to specific windows, not just the desktop. Very handy if you have a server and just want to launch applications from it.

CureROM - make those pesky copy protection issues go away, fairly steep learning curve but you can download pre-configured ROM's.

AVG Anti-Virus - free, simple, effective.

It's funny you're asking for this stuff, up until a couple of weeks ago I had a site dedicated to free and open source alternatives, lost the DB moving to the new server...

This site does a pretty good job as a primer for getting started in changing the "look and feel" of XP:

http://www.joeuser...dex.asp?c=1&AID=67

I second everything Chainsaw says. I've been running Firefox since it was called firebird. Thunderbird rocks my socks, I think I switched about half of Sheridan staff to it last summer.

puTTY, carry that around with me on my usb key, instant access to my server's from anywhere there's a usb port and an internet connection.

so is there any way i can totally remove internet explorer and ms office from my system?

ms office should uninstall - you can delete shortcuts and links to IE, but i don't think there's a way to "uninstall" it. I could be wrong, google around, setting up firefox as your default browser is the best thing to do, then you'll just never see IE.

Posted by Chainsaw ms office should uninstall - you can delete shortcuts and links to IE, but i don't think there's a way to "uninstall" it. I could be wrong, google around, setting up firefox as your default browser is the best thing to do, then you'll just never see IE.

yeah cus IE is so intertwined with windows its like one of its building blocks sadly

The only problem I have with IE in my current system is if I go up to the address bar in like My Computer or Windows Explorer, I've gotten sloppy over the years, I'll just go there and punch in a web address or whatever, it always pulls it up from there in IE, have to remember "Click the FOX! CLICK THE FOX!"

Posted by Chainsaw The only problem I have with IE in my current system is if I go up to the address bar in like My Computer or Windows Explorer, I've gotten sloppy over the years, I'll just go there and punch in a web address or whatever, it always pulls it up from there in IE, have to remember "Click the FOX! CLICK THE FOX!"

im the same its a hard habit to break

XP pro, or home? Can you reload the OS? When was it loaded? IE is not removable, but can be locked down with Zone Alarm, and by configuring Services.

Posted by blackhawk XP pro, or home? Can you reload the OS? When was it loaded? IE is not removable, but can be locked down with Zone Alarm, and by configuring Services.

XP pro, its in french GRR. because i bought the laptop from a friend. i do not have the cd and i cannot upgrade to sp2 because the cd key is "not valid" yet the laptop still works

Posted by TaP XP pro, its in french GRR. because i bought the laptop from a friend. i do not have the cd and i cannot upgrade to sp2 because the cd key is "not valid" yet the laptop still works

Call microsoft, explain that you've had to reinstall several times, and that it's the same machine you bought and you have the orignal cd ect, ect.

Posted by TaP XP pro, its in french GRR. because i bought the laptop from a friend. i do not have the cd and i cannot upgrade to sp2 because the cd key is "not valid" yet the laptop still works

Pro is good, but sooner or later, you'll need to reload. You also need the CD to use the sfc /scannow command. This means you can not easily repair missing, or damaged system files. Installing, or uninstalling apps can damage, or lose system files from time to time.

Is system restore enabled? If so you may be able to get rid of some the software you don't like without risking messing up system files.

I would be leary of any IM service, and using email to bring in anything other than plain text messages, or at least limit email from trusted sources only. Don't use Media Player, or other high risk apps. Loading high risk apps increases the chances of needing to reload to clean the house of malware, and of poor performance. The free version of Zone Alarm will uninstall easy if need be, and I recommend using it.

This is one of the reasons to use Pro; always buy the Pro version. Type in the run window "gpedit.msc". This allows you to easily custom configure XP without using regedit. You can pull the plug on MS Messenger here, once and for all. Learn how to use this before you make changes!

Learn how to configure "Services" and optimize for performance, and security; there are many services that load and run in the background by default you don't need, or even want! Not just Windows apps, but 3rd party as well. Just be careful what you disable, or reset to manual!