Fresh Install Of Windows 7: Applications Installed + Modifications

Here's a list of Applications I install after doing a fresh install of Windows 7 and some Modifications I make to improve my usage of the OS.

# Applications I Install #####################

- Adobe Flash Player 10 ActiveX
Eventually some site, like youtube will ask you to install this
and provide a link for it.
Got from getvolery.com (ninite.com)
- Adobe Reader 9.1
Used to read PDF files.
Got from getvolery.com (ninite.com)
- CutePDF Writer 2.8
Used to write PDF files by adding a virtual printer to computer.
Got from getvolery.com (ninite.com)
- Microsfot Office Professional Plus 2010
- Microsoft Security Essentials
Free Antivirus software from Microsoft for machines with legally
actived versions of Windows.
Got from getvolery.com (ninite.com)
- Notepad++
Got from getvolery.com (ninite.com)
- Pidgin
Got from getvolery.com (ninite.com)
- VirtuaWin v4.3
Small simple, low resource tool that allows for multiple desktops.
It's free.
- VLC Media Player 1.1.4
Got from getvolery.com (ninite.com)
- WinRAR archiver
Got from getvolery.com (ninite.com)
- uTorrent
Got from getvolery.com (ninite.com)
- ASUS ATK Hot Key
Required for my ASUS laptop to get the special function keys to
work (Fn + ...). Got it from my ASUS DVD that came with laptop.

# Downloading From Ninite #####################

www.ninite.com (or www.getvolery.com) is a great site that allows you to download and install multiple programs with one installer without having to go through the hassle of running seperate installs. The installer is actually so basic that it doesn't ask you any questions at all (not even where to install), it just installs everything.

All programs are installed under:
C:\Program Files\...
or
C:\Program Files (x86)\... on a 64-bit version of Windows 7.

For a full list of available applications, visit www.nanite.com

# Programs I Pin To The Start Menu ############

- Calculator
- Paint
- Notepad
- Microsoft Word
- Pidgin
- Notepad++
- Sticky Notes (comes with Windows)

# Programs I Pin To The Task Bar ##############

- Internet Explorer
- Windows Explorer
- Notepad

# System Modifications I Make #################

Tools -> Folder Options -> View
1) Check 'Always show icons, never thumbnails'
2) Under 'Hidden files and folders', select 'Show hidden files, folders, or drives'
3) Uncheck 'Hide extensions for known file types'

Modify Power Options
- Change Power Button to Hibernate instead of Turn Off
- Make sure Sleep button is set to Sleep

Start Menu Properties
- Changed Look of Start Menu to not show 'Large icons'.
- Changed Control Panel to show as a list rather than be a link.
- Added Administrative tools to Start Menu to show as a list.

Internet Explorer
- Changed homepage
- Change search tool
- Change each tabs to appear in start menu preview

Automatic Updates
- Set to ask to download and install whenever important updates are
available. This way it doesn't download and install what you don't want.

Everything You Need To Know About GRUB 2

Here's a link to a thread that has all the information about GRUB 2, including how to re-install and uninstall.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1195275