[JugglingReferee]

Frequently my friends ask me to set their PC up to be "safe" (kids, viruses, etc).

Here's what I do:

I create a ~ 20 GB partition at the end of the drive for my purposes - usually copies of system images and drivers for their hardware.

• A fresh install of Windows (always using their legal COA product key)
• Install hardware drivers
• Install the latest OS Service Pack
• Install other updates via Windows Update
• Image created for base OS
  
• Install my basic suggested software:
• Microsoft Security Essentials, with updates
• CDBurnerXP
• Foxit PDF Reader
• CutePDF if they need to create PDFs
  
  
• Install software that they request/need; examples:
• Office
• Adobe Photoshop
• Video editing software

I then try to push Chrome onto them. I've been using it for quite some time, and I love it. I then suggest these extensions:
AdBlock, Facebook Disconnect, Ghostery, and Google Analytics Opt-Out.

As you can see, I say "no" to those trying to track me.



What do you do?

 

[classicsat]

I generally don't do other people's computers.

However, on systems around here, I usuallly throw on Firefox, Chrome, Flash, Java, Google Earth, Foxit, OpenOffice, EditpadLite (text editor;does linux files, more powerful than Notepad), XVI32 (hex editor), Putty, and Slowview.

I keep a folder of drivers on a USB HDD.