So yeah I'm about to format after my 30gb steam folder is transferred to my iPod.

In the meantime, what software should I get for my new installation of Windows?

List:
Steam
Google software pack

firefox works perfectly if you get Flash Player 10 Beta from the site.

audacity
speakonia

Flash, Gimp, Melodyne/Celemony, Firefox, VLC, Sandboxie, winrar, Utorrent.

I'd need to know more about you to recommend more.

What types of tasks do you take on with your computer?

Does "pen testing" hold any meaning to you?

Have you ever gone to any measures to obfuscate yourself online? Precaution? Paranoia?

Do you spend time digging through files?

Do you hide files?

Do you change the appearance or layout of your OS?

What else should be known?

Quote from: Solenoidclock;1377541Flash, Gimp, Melodyne/Celemony, Firefox, VLC, Sandboxie, winrar.

I'd need to know more about you to recommend more.

Well I'm working on a carreer in level design, I need software to make textures, create the maps(covered), make sounds, basically everything on that genre.

Also which music player? I want the bare minimum least cpu using one!

winamp maybe?

I use realplayer but nobody seems to like that one.

Antivirus?

AVG Free does the job

Quote from: Safe;1377543Well I'm working on a carreer in level design, I need software to make textures, create the maps(covered), make sounds, basically everything on that genre.

Also which music player? I want the bare minimum least cpu using one!

I'd recommend VLC for a music player. For maps well.. I can't think of anything good level designer thats free but there is http://3dworldstudio.thegamecreators.com/ and I'm not sure if they are offering free trials.

Quote from: Safe;1377543Well I'm working on a carreer in level design, I need software to make textures, create the maps(covered), make sounds, basically everything on that genre.

Also which music player? I want the bare minimum least cpu using one!

That's what VLC is. Low ram footprint media player.

As for the rest, I'd take a look into blender for open-source 3D, and david for a quick ass-saving in modeling. For working with sound it doesn't get more impressive than Melodyne studio 3. Give it a good recording or make one yourself within it, then it will break everything down note by note, polyphonically even. You can fix timing, amplitude, modulation, add vibrato, and generally do magic. The soundtrack for Portal was done entirely within the program. For textures don't overlook the gimp, and for maps you need to decide on a game engine. (source sdk is nice)

You may also want something for cad. Google's sketchup should be all you need, but inventor can be even better if you're geometrically inclined.

Edit: Don't forget the Combined Community Codec Pack, It'll save you from being plagued by obscure media formats.

Quote from: Solenoidclock;1377578That's what VLC is. Low ram footprint media player.

With any codec you can think of.  

Quote from: Solenoidclock;1377578That's what VLC is. Low ram footprint media player.
 
As for the rest, I'd take a look into blender for open-source 3D, and david for a quick ass-saving in modeling. For working with sound it doesn't get more impressive than Melodyne studio 3. Give it a good recording or make one yourself within it, then it will break everything down note by note, polyphonically even. You can fix timing, amplitude, modulation, add vibrato, and generally do magic. The soundtrack for Portal was done entirely within the program. For textures don't overlook the gimp, and for maps you need to decide on a game engine. (source sdk is nice)
 
You may also want something for cad. Google's sketchup should be all you need, but inventor can be even better if you're geometrically inclined.
 
Edit: Don't forget the Combined Community Codec Pack, It'll save you from being plagued by obscure media formats.

 
I'm using the source engine.
That's why I put (covered)
 
Also I'm on a new installation of xp after a living hell.
My modem drivers werent on the fresh install so I had to go all the way to my granma's and retrieve the drivers...

I think you should get the clockcrew.cc "where to post advisor" I think it'd help you alot.

I'd rather post it in general than to wait hours for replies.

Quote from: Safe;1377650I'd rather post it in general than to wait hours for replies.

id rather read posts in the right forum than you being banned